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Canadian Law Students / Re: Jobs When We Graduate (Directed to GillestheGreat mostly)
« on: October 31, 2008, 12:23:45 AM »
Haven't logged in a long time, and to my surprise, something addressed to me?! Wow.
First, clarification: I am part of the class of 2010.
Second: I'm not exactly typical, even for a Canadian. So my experience is different.
Third: you may not even care anymore about the answers.
That said, I'll still have a shot at this.
"What distinctions were there between you and your classmates if any, as you progressed through the law school journey as a Canadian?"
- Not much. Really. Except in Constitutional law, I would get called on as 'the expert on Canada', and also, interestingly enough, the expert on France and Europe. Apart from that, people don't care that much. Really.
"first summer work and what possibilities were available to you (between 1L and 2L"
- Very different from anyone else. You can work; just get the OPT (sign up for it in January ... it takes about 3 months). My personal experience: couldn't get a firm job, since I'm older and over-qualified. Really. Scary, in fact, but what firms were looking for is cannon fodder. Or people to make coffee.
"the interview process (especially how firms responded to you being a Canadian, and what they were looking for from you that would cause them to hire you over an American)"
- Firms don't care. And technically, they cannot even ask about nationality; only about 'are you legally allowed to work in the US'. They didn't look for anything special or particular.
"(do you still pay Canadian taxes, and does your visa restrict you?)"
No. If you don't spend 6 months in Canada, you don't pay taxes there, or so is my understanding.
Now for the juicy question:"intership outcomes (between 2L and 3L)"
Bare with me here ... this has nothing to do with nationality, but you need to know this: THE MARKET IS HORRIBLE. So, as you're working your way through 1L year, keep this in mind: you will not get a firm job as a 1L. Forget it. Not gonna happen. Don't waste your time, don't drop 100 resumes in the mail on Dec 1st like I did. I got nothing even when the economy was decent.
So hear this ... get a judicial internship, or work for some non profit, or anything more glamorous then working for a professor on campus. Can't stress that enough. It will be a rat race this summer and even worse next September to get a firm job. You need to show something interesting on your resume.
One issue you may want to consider also ... try to develop ties to where you are, or to where you aspire to be. Firms care an awful lot about 'ties to the city'. Some cities more than others (Philadelphia, for one), with New York the only exception. So if you want to practice in Boston, join the Boston society of something or other. If you want to practice in your local market, join some organization, some group, anything ... It will help.
Best of luck, and ask if you want to know anything more.
First, clarification: I am part of the class of 2010.
Second: I'm not exactly typical, even for a Canadian. So my experience is different.
Third: you may not even care anymore about the answers.
That said, I'll still have a shot at this.
"What distinctions were there between you and your classmates if any, as you progressed through the law school journey as a Canadian?"
- Not much. Really. Except in Constitutional law, I would get called on as 'the expert on Canada', and also, interestingly enough, the expert on France and Europe. Apart from that, people don't care that much. Really.
"first summer work and what possibilities were available to you (between 1L and 2L"
- Very different from anyone else. You can work; just get the OPT (sign up for it in January ... it takes about 3 months). My personal experience: couldn't get a firm job, since I'm older and over-qualified. Really. Scary, in fact, but what firms were looking for is cannon fodder. Or people to make coffee.
"the interview process (especially how firms responded to you being a Canadian, and what they were looking for from you that would cause them to hire you over an American)"
- Firms don't care. And technically, they cannot even ask about nationality; only about 'are you legally allowed to work in the US'. They didn't look for anything special or particular.
"(do you still pay Canadian taxes, and does your visa restrict you?)"
No. If you don't spend 6 months in Canada, you don't pay taxes there, or so is my understanding.
Now for the juicy question:"intership outcomes (between 2L and 3L)"
Bare with me here ... this has nothing to do with nationality, but you need to know this: THE MARKET IS HORRIBLE. So, as you're working your way through 1L year, keep this in mind: you will not get a firm job as a 1L. Forget it. Not gonna happen. Don't waste your time, don't drop 100 resumes in the mail on Dec 1st like I did. I got nothing even when the economy was decent.
So hear this ... get a judicial internship, or work for some non profit, or anything more glamorous then working for a professor on campus. Can't stress that enough. It will be a rat race this summer and even worse next September to get a firm job. You need to show something interesting on your resume.
One issue you may want to consider also ... try to develop ties to where you are, or to where you aspire to be. Firms care an awful lot about 'ties to the city'. Some cities more than others (Philadelphia, for one), with New York the only exception. So if you want to practice in Boston, join the Boston society of something or other. If you want to practice in your local market, join some organization, some group, anything ... It will help.
Best of luck, and ask if you want to know anything more.
